A Fresh Flower Blog by George Thomas Florist, Your Local Indianapolis Florist.

Category Archives: Floral Trends

Pantone’s color of the year for 2019 is a vibrant shade that’s warm and full of life. Pantone’s Living Coral 16-1546 is an “animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge.”

This beautiful color has been popular in weddings and events throughout the years, and emulates a playful essence with bright, vivd hues found in nature, especially under the sea. For 20 years, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings, and industrial design, as well as product, packaging, and graphic design.

CORAL FLOWERS

Coral is one of those colors which the opinion of the shade greatly varies according to preference. Some prefer a more orange or peachy shade, whereas others might favor a more salmon variety. In the case for Living Coral, we have selected various flowers that closely resemble this specific shade.

Many of these flower varieties are available year-round at George Thomas Florist including the roses, garden roses and carnations. However, some may be seasonal such as ranunculus and tulips.

Ask George Thomas Florist about your upcoming floral event to discover which flowers are in-season, and to place your orders in advance.

As a nod to inventiveness and imagination – with a little tribute to Prince mixed in for good measure – Pantone has chosen Ultra Violet as color of the year for 2018.

Ultra Violet (18-3838) is a deep, rich blue-based purple that, according to Pantone, communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking. Pantone goes on to describe their pick of the provocative purple shade as a tribute to the unknown

This year’s color selection is a stark contrast to the past four years which have consisted of softer and more muted colors such as Greenery in 2017, the duo of Rose Quartz and the light blue Serenity in 2016, along with the wine-colored Marsala of 2015. Prior to that, Pantone used a lighter shade of purple in 2014 with their selection of Radiant Orchid.

Image: Pantone

The bold purple may be a curious choice for some, but a closer look reveals that the opposing colors that make up Ultra Violet – red and blue – are largely symbolic of the polarizing American political climate of 2017 along with the hope that we can become more unified in 2018.

Aside from the political overtones, Ultra Violet is just a fun color that comes at a time when we could all use a little more fun in our lives. The dynamic shade of Purple also fits perfectly in the floral industry since it can be such an eye-catching accent color.

Lilacs, sage, clematis, and allium are close matches for Ultra Violet, but there are other options as well. Carnations, Lily of the Nile, anemones, hyacinth, chrysanthemums, hydrangea, and orchids can also be closely matched to Ultra Violet, as can a multitude of other varieties.

Now is your chance to jump on this new trend in its infancy. Your friends at George Thomas Florist are ready to help you select the perfect bouquet featuring 2018’s hottest color – Ultra Violet. Only time will tell if this year’s color of the year is prophecy, but even if not, it’s still a fun shade to use.

2017 has arrived, and this year is already shaping up to be a hot one in the floral industry. From exciting new color palettes to creative new textures, here are some trends to watch for this year.

Color My World

Pantone recently announced their pick for the 2017 ‘Color of the Year,’ and this year’s winner is one that ties in extremely well to the floral industry. In fact, the name itself – Greenery – is something that florists use every day!

According to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, the newly crowned Greenery is ‘nature’s neutral’ and is symbolic of new beginnings.

“Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the reassurance we year for amid a tumultuous social and political environment. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate and revitalize, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose,” Eiseman said.

Greenery is a very versatile color that is considered “trans-seasonal” and thus lends itself to many complementary floral color combinations, including last year’s co-colors of the year, Serenity and Rose Quartz.

A Twist of Modern and Antiquity

Each fall, the Society of American Florists previews some trends in the floral industry that they think will be at the top of every fashion-forward list for the upcoming year. This time, SAF identified four trends to watch for in 2017.

Photo by SAF

The French Connection – This trend is all about the beauty and romance that surrounds the French culture. Thoughts of cobblestone streets and quaint countryside cottages were the inspiration for this trend which features a color palette of reds with hints of chocolate, burnt orange, golden yellows, sage grey-greens, charcoal and muted pink. Featured flowers include multi-petaled blooms such as garden roses and peonies combined with textured berries in aged metallic pedestal containers and distressed ceramic vases.

Photo by SAF

The Force of Nature – The focus of this trend is all about our love for nature and the connection we have within in our lives. Bright teals, ocean blues, and mossy greens, blend flawlessly with muted gray undertones in this nautical-inspired palette. Natural textures such as driftwood, sea glass and shells complete the trend with featured flowers including delphinium, hyacinth, veronica, and Nigella.

Photo by SAF

Modern Wonders – This dynamic trend stresses simplicity. A blend of modern, sophisticated lines with furnishings from other cultures and metallic finishes; this trend unites young and old with a fresh new approach. Featured colors of this trend include plum red, lavender, taupe, gray and copper with floral selections including bold single blooms or uniquely shaped flowers like Protea, red ginger, cymbidium orchids and muted lavender rose shades.

Photo by SAF

Into the Jungle – The final trend is an untamed, wild mix of jungle-inspired colors that excites the senses in a classic departure from more formal, muted palettes. Bright shades of orange, yellow and green mix with animal prints, hand-woven baskets, and hand-carved wooden vases, highlighted with tropical flowers and foliage including bamboo, moss, and cork.

Wedding Trends

In addition to the new trends in floral design, weddings also play an instrumental role in determining what’s hot and what’s not for the upcoming year. While each wedding is unique and the design choices are ultimately determined by the wedding party and their florists, certain trends signal a preview of what brides will be asking for in 2017.

Organic and natural is one of the top wedding trends for 2017, and loose, unstructured arrangements are becoming a popular choice for many of this year’s brides as many choose cascading bouquets that appear to flow like a floral waterfall.

Those with tastes leaning in the opposite direction may opt for a simple, more traditional round bouquet with bold eye-catching colors. Some brides may elect to take that simplicity a step further with bouquets consisting of only one to three flowers for a dynamic effect.

Of course, there are also the giant, oversized statement bouquets which have been popular in recent years. That trend has been strong for a while and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Whatever your style dictates, and however your tastes decide, consider giving some of this year’s floral trends a try, or better yet, start a trend of your own! We’re here to help you find the perfect bouquet for any occasion, and our design team will be happy to work with you to help make your world beautiful in 2017!